National Progressivism During the 1900’s, the United States was entering a new administration and a new set of reforms that became enacted in government. Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson did extensive work in changing the nation for the better. The progressive reforms passed by both presidents not only maintained the traditional values of the Founders, but also introduced new laws that would ultimately help quality of life for the American people. The reforms passed would help the lives of millions of Americans, and raise awareness of the true reality of corruption that was occurring in the nation. Throughout this period, the United States was becoming more industrialized. The capitalistic views and big business corporations
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He had a vision to restore the government from corruptive business, and to establish a better life for American citizens. In his Inaugural Address, he addresses “We have made up our minds to square every process of our national life again with the standards we so proudly set up at the beginning... Our work is a work of restoration…” (Doc F). With these goals in mind, Wilson first enacted reforms that would help expand democracy in the United States. He authorized the selection of senators by the people. In The New Freedom, he states, “whenever you analyzed the power that was behind those little groups you have found that it was not the power of the public opinion, but some private influence..” (Doc E). Wilson wanted to stop private influences on the election of senators, and focus more on allowing the American citizens to have a voice in their government. Before the 17th Amendment was passed, Senate seats were bought and the citizens never elected candidates. This new amendment allowed citizens to have a voice and cast their own choice of senators. Ideally, it expanded democracy, and allowed the Senate seats to be properly given. In addition, Wilson used his power to veto a bill regarding literacy tests for immigrants. For him, it was outrageous for an immigrant that came to the United States to be forced to do a literacy test. He expressed, “Those who came seeking opportunity are not to be admitted unless they have already had one of the chief of the opportunities they seek, the opportunity of education” (Doc I). He thought that a bill like this would be unnecessary, and it would just cause “radical
He had a vision to restore the government from corruptive business, and to establish a better life for American citizens. In his Inaugural Address, he addresses “We have made up our minds to square every process of our national life again with the standards we so proudly set up at the beginning... Our work is a work of restoration…” (Doc F). With these goals in mind, Wilson first enacted reforms that would help expand democracy in the United States. He authorized the selection of senators by the people. In The New Freedom, he states, “whenever you analyzed the power that was behind those little groups you have found that it was not the power of the public opinion, but some private influence..” (Doc E). Wilson wanted to stop private influences on the election of senators, and focus more on allowing the American citizens to have a voice in their government. Before the 17th Amendment was passed, Senate seats were bought and the citizens never elected candidates. This new amendment allowed citizens to have a voice and cast their own choice of senators. Ideally, it expanded democracy, and allowed the Senate seats to be properly given. In addition, Wilson used his power to veto a bill regarding literacy tests for immigrants. For him, it was outrageous for an immigrant that came to the United States to be forced to do a literacy test. He expressed, “Those who came seeking opportunity are not to be admitted unless they have already had one of the chief of the opportunities they seek, the opportunity of education” (Doc I). He thought that a bill like this would be unnecessary, and it would just cause “radical